In this comic book review of The Deadman #3, Boston Brand prepares for a trip into the bowels of Hell.
The Deadman #3
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Art and Main Cover: Martín Morazzo
Variant Covers: Alex Eckman-Lawn, Christian Ward, Tyler Boss
Page Count: 20 pages
Release Date: August 5, 2026
This review contain spoilers
In The Deadman #3, Boston Brand prepares to go to Hell, seeking the origin of the mysterious Anti-Krishna/Syphons that are feasting upon Atman and forcefully removing souls from the wheel of Samsara before their time. For an unknown reason, Bobby, one of the ghosts of Robertsville, is assigned by Rama Kushna to accompany Deadman through the Nine Circles and into Lucifer Morningstar’s inner sanctum. Boston is not happy about this, and although for a harrowing moment, it seems Bobby may have been sent as a tribute to Lucifer, the reason for Bobby’s presence is never clarified.
Instead, he serves as the reader’s stand-in, allowing Deadman to explain this incarnation of the Nine Circles. Some of them are incredibly specific and modernized, like the second level, a never-ending subway ride meant for those who wouldn’t give up their seats to pregnant women or the elderly, “let them ride forever”. Others are completely abstracted, reality simplified to the spiritual math that Boston and Rama Kushna continuously refer to, just diagrams and measurements.
Artist Martin Morazzo really goes wild in this issue, going from a medieval wood cut in black, white, and red, to a 1920s storybook illustration style with a goose-drawn chariot and a man in the moon, to a white-on-back shadow puppet style page in the final circle before reaching Lucifer.
In the midst of the more abstract sections is our update on Mr. M, still devouring his victims, but this time, we get a little more background on where he’s been (dodging the Nuremberg trials for one) and where he found his arcane abilities. Done in prose with a single manuscript illumination style illustration, it fits well with the visual concepts of the issue while also providing development beyond Mr. M’s continued depraved activity.
The tribute to Lucifer, by the way, is crayons; the same offering Deadman makes to Rama Kushna in Issue 1. While Rama Kushna was entranced by the “yellowness” of the yellow, Lucifer is delighted by the variety of shades of red, crowing that they will “draw so much blood.”
The Deadman #3 does end on a down note, with Boston seriously questioning his purpose and his trust in Rama Kushna due to things he witnessed along his journey into Hell. His ability to help souls, to continue their paths along the wheel, has been his main source of comfort as he copes with his purgatorial existence, and it’s very clear that these discoveries have shaken his faith. Especially since he intends to take those doubts straight to God in the next issue.
Final Thoughts
The Deadman as a series still has a lot to say on a metaphysical level beyond mere body horror or gore, and is focused a lot on Boston’s contemplation of his situation, not in an obsessive way. I think the outcome of this arc could go a lot of ways, and will definitely involve some kind of temptation for Boston. I’m excited to see what the next issue brings!
